In the framework of the new project “Women`s participation in the process of building trust and sustainable peace has been strengthened”, the needs research of women and IDP girls and victims of conflict has started in target municipalities.

During the meeting with the fieldworkers, information on important details of future activities was exchanged.

The geography of the research is 6 villages on the conflict dividing line and in Zugdidi. During the research, quantitative and qualitative information will be collected.

“The school should be interested in the concept of a safe school. The law on general education clearly states that the school must take responsibility for the violence,” mentioned one of the teachers, a participant of the event.

Teachers, parents and representatives of education resource centers from different municipalities attended a round table, which was held on the initiative of the Fund “Sukhumi”. The topic of the meeting was: “Nonviolent, safe environment in schools and the role of resource centers in promoting non-formal education”.

The participants discussed the existing challenges. During the meeting the recommendations were announced – their consideration will contribute to strengthening of cooperation between resource centers and schools, as well as the formation of a safe school model.

The youth spirit was felt that day in the office of the Fund "Sukhumi". Students of the upper-grades from Kutaisi, Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha municipalities took part in the training “Conflict Management, Positive Communication, Tolerance, Empathy, Leadership, Civil Activism”.

Young people liked the comfortable atmosphere, topics, relationships between the participants, they boldly played roles during various activities.

At the end of the training, the participants shared their impressions. Here are some short phrases from their remarks:

Elene Shengelia (school of the village Koki, Zugdidi municipality): - The training strengthened the roots of non-formal education in me ... My knowledge and the knowledge gained during the training supplemented each other and created a strong chain.

“Public Administration Reform (PAR) Roadmap Monitoring in 8 municipalities of Western Georgia” is a new publication, the second report prepared by the the Fund “Sukhumi” in partnership with Imereti Scientists’ Union “Spectri” and the Fund of Women Entrepreneurs. As a result of the monitoring, an assessment of local self-government in terms of efficiency, transparency and inclusiveness was carried out in Khoni, Bagdati, Terjola, Vani, Ozurgeti, Lanchkhuti, Tsageri and Ambrolauri municipalities.

 The second report shows the progress in implementing the recommendations developed to correct the gaps identified after the first monitoring, and presents new recommendations for achieving better quality e-services in local municipalities.

The work is carried out in the framework of the project “A common forum for CSOs from Guria, Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi for PAR Roadmap monitoring”.

The project is implemented with the support the European Union - #EU4Georgia

The innovative and interesting project “Online Vote-O-Meter for 2020 Georgian Parliamentary Elections” has come to an end. On March 25, a final conference was held online with participation of about 60 people.

The project participants shared the experience gained in the process of implementing the “Voter’s Advice Application” application and talked about the introduction and use of similar platform during future elections.

The guests were actively involved in the discussion and expressed their opinions regarding the importance of the application in terms of informing the population and increasing political trust, as well as the need for its introduction during the elections of local self-government and prospects for the future.

Fund "Sukhumi" started working on the project “Bridging the Gap: People to People Initiatives for Conflict Resolution”. According to the project, Women and Youth Initiative Groups have been formed in Kutaisi, Tskalutbo, Khoni, Senaki, Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha municipalities. Each group is composed by 20-25 members.

Women and youth groups will work in parallel and will be involved in the activities envisaged under the project - studying the needs at local level and advocating for problems. The members of the group will pass special trainings, educational seminars, which will serve to increase their competence and strengthen civic activism. The work of the initiative groups is an important component of the project, which will create an opportunity for the implementation of new initiatives and will contribute to improving the level of tolerance in society.

The Fund "Sukhumi" in partnership with the Association "Peaceful and Business Caucasus" and with the support of the USAID is implementing the project “Bridging the Gap: People to People Initiatives for Conflict Resolution”.

The project has been actively started since February and includes civil, educational, medical and economic areas.

Numerous activities are planned during two years on both sides of the conflict dividing line. Youth clubs and councils will be established in 11 municipalities, trainings and meetings will be held, exchange programs will be organized, small grants will be funded, etc.

All of these activities are based on a trilateral strategy: overcoming mistrust through personal contacts, identifying common topics, finding and supporting ways of reconciliation.

The project is implemented with the support of the USAID

The meeting of Bagdati working group was devoted to the discussion of the provisions of ethics of the municipality. The meeting was also attended by invited guests who are competent in this issue. The meeting was held on the backdrop of active discussions. It was decided to accept the identified recommendations and to post the final version on the municipality's website in a week. Thus, the document will be available to everyone so that they can express their proposals before approval.

The work is carried out in the framework of the project “A common forum for CSOs from Guria, Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi for PAR Roadmap monitoring”.

These 12 children live in Saberio and study in Georgian school of Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha Municipality). Saberio and Pakhulani are the villages on both sides of Abkhazian conflict dividing line, which was closed during pandemic.Education was continued remotely. 12 children became isolated, as they didn’t have telephone, internet. Situation in families became tense due to conflict and violence.

Pakhulani Women Initiative Group (WIG) identified this problem. Advocacy was successfully finished: Fund "Sukhumi" found an opportunity, gave smartphones to children, paid money for the Internet.

Advocacy was continued at the central level. According to decision of the Ministry of Education of Georgia, children living in Saberio were given the opportunity to use available internet and 12 pupils continue to study remotely.

“I am passionate about contributing to a peaceful, just, and progressive society, in which women, together with men, are able to make a difference through their activism. I firmly believe that peace and security cannot be sustained unless women have an equal and active role in political, economic, and social policy formulation.”

This is an excerpt from Ekaterina Gamakharia's speech.

On March 25 Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of the Tbilisi office of the Fund "Sukhumi", participated in an online discussion, held within the framework of the 65th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65).

In her speech, Ekaterine spoke about the devastating impact of the pandemic, revealed as a result of the rapid response research carried out by the Fund "Sukhumi", as well as about the economic situation of IDPs and conflict-affected women. She stressed the role of women and their participation in policy-making, which plays a critical role in overcoming the crisis.